March 17, 2007

JACKSON, Tenn. - Third-seeded Cumberland University (Tenn.) held off a late rally from Langston University (Okla.) to post a 72-71 victory and advance to the semifinals of the 27th Annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Championship at Oman Arena.

Cumberland held a seven-point lead with just over three minutes remaining in the game, but Langston twice cut it to a single point, the first time when Matalya McBath-Belvin drove the left side of the lane for a layup that cut the lead to 70-69 with 49 seconds remaining. With 26 seconds to play, Ashley Cross extended the lead back to three at 72-69 with a pair of free throws, only to see Teneisha McKinney's baseline jumper pull Langston to within 72-71 with 16 seconds to play.

Langston's trapping defense forced a pass out of bounds as Cumberland tried to bring the ball upcourt, and Langston had the ball near midcourt with nine seconds left in the game. McKinney got an open look at a 10-foot jumper from the top of the key, but her shot hit the back of the rim and Cross, Cumberland's five-foot-five point guard, went up and brought down the rebound as time expired to seal the victory.

Cross finished with 10 points, two of them on her only free throws of the night that provided the final cushion, and she dished out a game-high seven assists. Kiana Robinson finished with team-highs of 19 points and eight rebounds, and Renae Williams added 13 points.

McBath-Belvin posted her second straight double-double, posting game-highs of 24 points and 11 rebounds. She made 11-of-19 field goal attempts. JaCarie Owens added 19 points and five rebounds.

Cumberland, in just its third-ever NAIA Tournament appearance, improves to 26-7 overall and advances to the semifinals for the first time in program history, will face Vanguard in Monday's first semifinal at 6 p.m. Langston drops to 29-5 to finish the season.